Lyceum Pirates’ John Barba during an NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament game. –NCAA PHOTO

John Barba keyed Lyceum’s late burst before the Pirates staved off the Jose Rizal University Heavy Bombers, 82-80, on Friday in the NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament.

Barba sank nine of his team-high 20 points in the fourth and the Pirates went on to escape with a win that boosted their tight Final Four bid.

The Pirates likewise weathered a breakout performance by Joshua Guiab, who assembled a career-high 27 points on top nine rebounds and four assists, in notching victory No 8 that fanned their semifinal aspirations.

“One game at a time, but we should win all our remaining games,’’ said Lyceum coach Gilbert Malabanan.

The Pirates need to hurdle their last two elimination-round assignments in Emilio Aguinaldo College and College of St. Benilde for a return trip to the playoffs.

There were actually too many heroes that put on a show for Lyceum with Renz Villegas and Gyle Montano contributing heavily as well together with Simon Penafiel and Vince Cunanan.

Lyceum Pirates during an NCAA Season 100 men’s basketball tournament game. –NCAA PHOTO

Barba’s drive capped a mild run by the Pirates, pushing them ahead by seven, before Genesis Aviles stopped the JRU bleeding with a putback approaching the final two minutes.

Karl De Jesus scored on the transition off a turnover by Villegas and Guiab split his free throws in the next possession, stitching the gap closer, 80-81, with 22.3 seconds remaining.

McClaude Guadana was fouled in the succeeding sequence, sending the defense-oriented wingman to the line where he buried another free throw that served as the final count.

Shawn Argente dribbled the length of the back court and threw a desperation heave that only managed to hit the glass as time expired.

Villegas and Montano both finished with 18 points while Penafiel had 10 for the Pirates.

Already out of contention in the semifinals, the Heavy Bombers couldn’t stop their free fall, absorbing a 12th defeat with two games left in their season.

Power forward Karl De Jesus had a career game of 14 points, seven rebounds, four assists and one block for the Heavy Bombers while Joseph Pangilinan and Mart Barrera contributed 10 and nine points apiece.

The Scores

LYCEUM 82 – Barba 20, Villegas 18, Montaño 18, Peñafiel 10, Cunanan 4, Aviles 4, Versoza 4, Guadaña 3, Daileg 1, Moralejo 0, Panelo 0

JRU 80 – Guiab 27, De Jesus 14, Pangilinan 10, Barrera 9, Raymundo 8, Sarmiento 4, Argente 3, Ferrer 3, Bernardo 2, Mosqueda 0, De Leon 0, Lozano 0, Panapanaan 0, Samontanes 0

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Quarter scores: 23-21lodi 646, 47-38, 64-61, 82-80

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